Garment conditioning apparatus



June 7, 1966 A. F. PARIS 3,254,813

GARMENT CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTQR Augus/ E Par/s BY wflamm w HIS ATTORNEYS June 7, 1966 A. F.PARIS 3,254,813

4 GARMENT CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed June 50, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. A ugus/ E Par/s jwe/n HIS A TTOR/VEIYS June 7, 1966 A. F.PARIS GARMENT CONDITIONING APPARATUS 5 sheets sheet 3 Filed June 30,1961 A 1NVENTOR August FI Par/s HIS ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,254,813 GARMENT CONDITIDNING APPARATUS August F. Paris, 1025 Oak St.,Brockway, Pa. Filed June 31), 1961, Ser. No. 121,235 8 Claims. (Cl.223-70) This invention relates to garment finishing apparatus for use inthe pressing, shaping, and otherwise conditioning garments for wear bothbefore and after they have been worn.

An object of the invention is to produce improved apparatus the functionof which is similar to that of the apparatus disclosed in my UnitedStates Patent No. 2,915,- 229 of Dec. 1, 1959, for steaming andconditioning garments.

A further object of the invention is to produce apparatus and procedurefor subjecting every portion of the t'abric of a garment being processedto a flow of high temperature steam to thereby renovate the entiregarment during a single operation and an operation which may becontrolled by a single operator.

A further object of the invention is to produce apparatus for thoroughlyconditioning garments for wear while, at the same time, avoiding thepossibility of waterspotting the fabric of the garment being processedby subjecting it to contact with prematurely formed water ofcondensation or Water from any source.

These and other objects, which will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of the invention, are attained by the use ofapparatus disclosed in the accompanying drawings and in the procedureherein outlined in connection with that apparatus.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of apparatus embodying myinvention shown in connection with a diagrammatic fragmental sectionalview of a permeable bag such as a fabric bag to be employed inconnection with apparatus embodying my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1,the view is taken as from the line II-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional view of the apparatus shownin FIGURE 2, the section being taken along the line III-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, thesection being taken on line IVIV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus shown inFIGURES 1 to 3, the section being taken along the line VV of FIGURE 1;and

FIGURE 6 is a schematic view of the apparatus embodying my inventionwhich is shown in connection with arrows indicating the flow of steam toand through the apparatus.

The apparatus here disclosed includes in its make-up a base 7, anupwardly extending open top, annular wall or casing member 8 mounted onthe base 7, a system of heating coils or conduit means 11 located abovethe base and surrounded by the annular wall 8, a steamer 12 mounted onwall 8, a motor-driven fan for propelling a stream of air through thewall 8, over the system of heating coils 11, past the steamer 12 andinto a' garment being processed, i.e., a garment (not shown) which issuspended above the annular wall 8 with its bottom portion surroundingthe steamer and preferably secured to the upper portion of the wall 8,so that the stream of air propelled by the fan moves into such garment.The arrangement of the illustrated apparatus is such that the airdelivered by the fan picks up steam delivered by the steamer and themixture of steam and air passes through substantially every portion ofthe fabric included in the "ice make-up of the garment suspended abovethe annular wall 8 and steamer 12.

A transversely perforated steamer block 1 3 forms an essential part of aso-called steamer 12 which is supported by the wall 8 and is locatedabove and substantially centrally of the heating coils 11 and the fan10. A plurality of transversely extending passages 14 are formed in theblock 13 for delivery of upwardly directed jets of steam into the streamof air propelled by the fan and moving into the interior of such garmentas is suspended above the steamer 12 and is also secured to the wall 8.

A feature of the present invention is that the steamer block 13 isseparately heated to a temperature substantially above that of the steamnormally delivered in the form of jets from formerly employed steamers.The steam enters the passages 14 at the lower end of the block, whereeach passage 14 is of substantial cross sectional area, and then exitsfrom the top of the block where the passages 14 are of reduced crosssection area. This will, in effect, increase the density of the steam asit passes through the passages of the block 13 and, in effect,super-heat the steam as it passes through the passages 14 of the heatedblock where it is then emitted with increased velocity. Thus the steamis raised to a super-heat temperature as a preliminary to passing itthrough the fabric of the garment on and surrounding the form.

Another feature of the invention is that each fluid passage 14 formed inthe block 13 and extending transversely 'therethrough, is of substantiallength (about 1 /2 inches long) and, at its exit end, is less than halfits cross sectional area at its entrance end. Consequently, the steamentering each passage 14 is not only checked in its flow through theblock 13, but is also forced into intimate contact with the heated wallsof the passages 14 in the highly and separately heated block 13. Thisarrange-ment of apparatus and procedure is highly effective inincreasing the temperature of the steam as it passes through the blockwith the results that the steam issuing as jets from the steamer is notonly dry but is also super-heated steam.

In the apparatus illustrated, the base 7 is circular and the wall 8 issecured to an upwardly projecting annular leg of an angle bar 7a forminga part of the base. The upper end of the wall 8 is secured to an annularmember 15 which in turn supports cross members (not shown) on which thesteamer 12 is mounted. The lower portion *8a of the wall 8 may be, andpreferably is formed of screening and the heating coils 11 heat the airdrawn into the cylindrical wall 8 by the fan 10, to a relatively hightemperature. The fan is similar to the tan disclosed in said Patent No.2,915,229, and, as indicated, is driven by motor 16.

The steamer 12 includes a body member 12a that forms a chamber 17 whichpartially surrounds a central support member 18. A portion of chamber 17is arc-shaped and is closed at its upper end by the steamer block 1-3.As shown, chamber -17 receives steam from the supply line 19 whichreceives steam from a high pressure source through a valve 19a. As isusual procedure, steam is periodically delivered to the chamber 17. Thisis accomplished in the illustrated embodiment of the invention by anautomatic-ally controlled solenoid valve 19b. As shown in FIGURE 1, thesupply line :19 delivers into a special- T fitting 19c and the solenoidvalve 19b is located in a side line or first branch conduit like 19dwhich communicates with the side exit of the T fitting 19c and alsocommunicates with the interior of the chamber 17 of the steamer at apoint well above the bottom of the chamber. The continuation of thesupply line 19 is shown as a pipe 22 of reduced area which deliverssteam from the main discharge port of the T fitting 19c into a heatingpassage 22a of the steamer block 13, which passage is 3 disclosed inFIGURE 2 and will hereinafiter be more fully described.

The steamer block 13 is mounted on and secured to the vertical wall ofthe steamer 12 and all of the passages '14, formed in the block, receivesteam from the chamber 17. As stated and as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3,the lower portion of each passage 14 is of substantially larger diameterthan the upper portion thereof. In the apparatus here described, thelower portion of each aperture 14 is /s inch in diameter, whereas, theupper portion is less than V inch in diameter.

The steamer block 13 is provided with an interior heating passage 21which, as shown in FIGURE 2, is made up of four communicating drilledpassages to which high pressure steam is delivered through a pipe orsecond branch conduit 22 and from which the steam is delivered through adelivery pipe 23-24. As shown in FIGURE 1 and as indicated in FIGURE 6,the pipe 2 3-24 com-municates with a passage 25 (FIGURE 1), formed inthe shell of the steamer and which communicates at its inner end with achamber 26 formed in the support member 18 forming a part of thesteamer.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 6, steam entering the steamer chamber 26 isdelivered by piping 27 to the system of coils 11 and, after passingthrough those coils, the steam and such condensation as is carried bythe steam is discharged through the outlet 28. As shown in FIGURE 1, theoutlet 28 communicates with a steam trap 28a. The trap is such that itwill discharge the condensate but will retain the steam under highpressure in all three of the heating units, viz., the coils 11, theblock 13, and the chamber 26.

From the foregoing it is apparent that the steamer block 13 receives aflow of heating fluid (preferably steam) through the pipe 22 and thatheating steam is delivered to the coils 11 by the chamber 26 of thesteamer and the piping 23-24 and the pipe 27. Thus, the steamer block iscontinuously heated preferably to a temperature Within the range of from220 to 290 F. and the flow of air delivered by the fan 110 to theinterior of the bag 20 is likewise preferably heated to a temperaturewithin that range as it is mixed with the steam delivered by thepassages 14 of the steamer block 13.

The block 13 is formed of heat-conducting material, preferably metal,consequently, both the steam and the air are delivered int-o thepermeable bag 20 at a temperature such as to normally prevent theformation of Water of condensation. It is stressed that the steamentering the passages 14 of the block 13 is checked in its flow throughthose passages by the reduction in the area of the exit end of each suchpassage. This results in a correspondingly greater density of the steammoving through the passages 14 and this causes a build-up of thevelocity of the flow emitting from each of those passages.

Such condensate as is carried by the steam entering the steamer chamber17, drops to the bottom of that chamber and is continuously evaporatedby the heat delivered to the chamber 26 of the steamer. It should benoted that the body of steamer block .13, which is of a material havinga high coefficient of heat conduction, is maintained at a consistenttempearture which is higher than the temperature of the steam enteringchamber 17. The higher temperature of steamer block 13 is achievedthrough the maintenance of a flow of pressurized steam moving throughconduit 21, wherein the friction of the continual flow upon the innerwalls of conduit 21 causes the conversion of kinetic energy to heatenergy which is transferred to steamer block 13 and subsequently to thesteam flow within apertures 14 by thermal conductivity. It is also notedthat such particles of water condensation as may be picked up by thesteam leaving the chamber 17 and entering the passages 14 of the steamerblock 13, receive heat from the heated block 13 and are raised to atemperature such that they immediately evaporate into relatively highpressure steam as they issue with the steam jets from the passages 14 ofthe steamer. From this it is apparent that the arrangement of the steampassages 19 and 19d with relation to the chamber 17 is such that thesteamer acts as the steam separator and that under normal operatingconditions the steam delivered from the chamber 17 to the passages 14 ofthe highly heated steamer block 13 is dry steam devoid of moisture. Inany event, the steam leaving the steamer block 13 and entering thesubstantially atmospheric pressure within the bag 20, in effect,explodes with the result that any particles of moisture carried by thesuper-heated steam are expanded into hot spray or steam existing at atempera ture substantially above condensation temperature. As a result,steam issuing from the permeable bag 20 and passing through the fabricof the garment being processed will uniformly dampen the fabric of thegarment but only enough to make the fabric pliable and thus remove suchwrinkles as may have been formed in it.

It is apparent that the steamer block 13 may be made in various sizesand, therefore, can be installed over, or in connection with variouschambers from which steam is delivered into garments for the purpose ofmoistening the fabric of the garments.

In FIGURE 2 of the accompanying drawings I have disclosed the inletpassage 22 as provided with an inte-riorly threaded inlet aperture 22a.I have also shown the outlet passage 23 provided with an interiorlythreaded outlet aperture 2311. These apertures, however, are optionaland are suggested merely for use where the location of the renovatingapparatus is such that the use of piping 22 and 23, such as indicated,is not feasible.

In FIGURE 1 I have shown the upper end of the chamber 26 closed by screwplug, thus the chamber contributes to the heating of the steamer as wellas the heating of the system of coils 1 1.

While I have illustrated but a single embodiment of the presentinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that variouschanges, additions, and even omissions may be made in that apparatuswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereindescribed and illustrated.

What I claim is 1. In garment renovating apparatus including, a base, acasing member mounted on the base and having an open top portion forupwardly delivering processing fluids, permeable garment support meansconnected to the casing member and extending upwardly therefrom in gasflow communication with the open portion of the casing member; animproved steamer, means connecting said steamer to said permeablegarment support means for delivering steam from said steamer into thepermeable garment support means, said steamer comprising a body memberthat forms an open-ended cavity, a steamer block mounted on said bodymember across the open end of said cavity to form a chamber, saidsteamer block having a plurality of restricted apertures extendingtherethrough and being in flow communication with the chamber, means fordelivering pressurized steam to said chamber, and means for adding heatto steam flowing through said apertures.

2. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base and having an open top portion for upwardlydelivering processing fluids, permeable garment support means connectedto the casing member and extending upwardly therefrom in gas flowcommunication with the open portion of the casing member; an improvedsteamer, means connecting said steamer to said permeable garment supportmeans for delivering steam from said steamer into the permeable garmentsupport means, said steamer comprising a body member that forms anopen-ended cavity, a steamer block mounted on said body member acrossthe open end of said cavity to form a chamber, said steamer block havinga plurality of restricted apertures extending therethrough and being inflow communication with the chamber, said steamer bloc-k also havingheating passage means positioned therein, a supply line for providing asupply of pressurized steam, at first branch conduit that is connectedto be in fluid communication with said supply line and to said chamberfor delivering a portion of said pressurized steam supply to saidchamber, and a second branch that is connected to be in flowcommunication with said supply line and said heating passage means insaid steamer block for delivering another portion of said pressurizedsteam supply to said heating passage means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, each of said restrictedapertures include a substantially cylindrical reduced area dischargeportion.

4. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base and having an open top portion for upwardlydelivering processing fluids, permeable garment support means connectedto the casing member and extending upwardly therefrom in gas flowcommunication with the open portion of the casing member; an improvedsteamer, means connecting said steamer to said permeable garment supportmeans for delivering steam from said steamer into the permeable garmentsupport means, said steamer comprising a body member that forms anopen-ended cavity, a steamer block mounted on said body member acrossthe open end of said cavity to form a chamber, said steamer block havinga plurality of restricted apertures extending therethrough and being inflow communication with said chamber, said steamer block also havinginternal passages positioned therein, a supply line for providing asupply of pressurized steam from an external steam-generating source, afirst branch conduit that is connected to be in fluid communication withsaid supply line for delivering a portion of said pressurized steamsupply to said chamber, means operatively associated with said firstbranch conduit for controlling the delivery of said pressurized steam tosaid chamber, and a second branch conduit that is connected to be inflow communication with said supply line and said internal passages insaid steamer block for delivering another portion of said pressurizedsteam supply to said internal passages. s

5. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base and having an open top portion for upwardlydelivering processing fluids, permeable garment support means connectedto the casing member and extending upwardly therefrom in gas flowcommunication with the open portion of the casing member; an improvedsteamer, means connecting said steamer to said permeable garment supportmeans for delivering steam from said steamer into the permeable garmentsupport means, said steamer comprising a body member that forms anopen-ended cavity, a steamer block mounted on said body member acrossthe open end of said cavity to form a chamber, said steamer block havinga plurality of restricted apertures extending therethrough and being inflow communication with said chamber, means for supplying pressurizedsteam to said chamber, and means in said steamer block for adding heatto steam flowing through said apertures.

6. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base and having an open top portion for upwardlydelivering processing fluids, permeable garment support meansoperatively connected to the open portion of the casing for receivinggarment treating fluids therefrom, conduit means mounted within thecasing for heating air therein, and means for creating a flow of heatedair upwardly into said permeable,

5 garment support means; an improved steamer, means connecting saidsteamerto said permeable garment support means for delivering steam fromsaid steamer into the permeable garment support means, said steamercomprising a body member that forms an open-ended cavity, a steamerblock mounted on said body member across the open end of said cavity toform a chamber, said steamer block having a plurality of restrictedapertures extending therethrough and being in flow communication withsaid chamber, said steamer block also having heating passage meanspositioned therein, a supply line for providing a supply of pressurizedsteam, a first branch conduit that is connected to be in flowcommunication with said supply line for delivering a portion of saidsupply of pressurized steam to said chamber, a second branch conduitthat is connected to be in flow communication with said supply line fordelivering another portion of said supply of pressurized steam to saidheating passage means in said steamer block, and means for deliveringthe steam supplied to said heating passage means, subsequently to saidair heating conduit means.

'7. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base, and permeable garment support means operativelyconnected to said casing member; an improved steamer supported by saidcasing member, said steamer having a body member that forms anopen-ended cavity, a steamer block mounted on said body member acrossthe open end of said cavity to form a chamber, said steamer block havinga plurality of restricted apertures extending therethrough and :being inflow communication with said chamber, means for delivering pressurizedsteam to said chamber, and means for adding heat to steam flowingthrough said apertures.

8. In garment renovating apparatus including a base, a casing membermounted on the base, and permeable garment support means operativelyconnected to said casing member; an improved steamer supported by saidcasing member, said steamer having means for receiving a supply ofpressurized steam, restricted aperture means in flow communication withsaid receiving means for discharging an expanded high velocity flow ofsteam, and means for adding heat to steam flowing through said aperturemeans.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN,Primary Examiner.

THOMAS J. HICKEY, Examiner.

G. H. KR'IZMANICH, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN GARMKENT RENOVATING APPARATUS INCLUDING, A BASE, A CASING MEMBERMOUNTED ON THE BASE AND HAVING AN OPEN TOP PORTION FOR UPWARDLYDELIVERING PROCESSING FLUIDS, PERMEABLE GARMENT SUPPORT MEANS CONNECTEDTO THE CASING MEMBER AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM IN GAS FLOWCOMMUNICATION WITH THE OPEN PORTION OF THE CASING MEMBER; AN IMPROVEDSTEAMER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID STEAMER TO SAID PERMEABLE GARMENT SPPORTMEANS FOR DELIVERING STEAM FROM SAID STEAMER INTO THE PERMEABLE GARMENTSUPPORT MEANS, SAID STEAMER COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER THAT FORMS ANOPEN-ENDED CAVITY, A STEAMER BLOCK MOUNTED ON SAID BODY MEMBER ACROSSTHE OPEN END OF